Scottish singer-songwriter Lewis Capaldi, famous for his heart-wrenching tracks like “Someone You Loved” and “Forget Me,” is back on stage after taking a two-year hiatus.
He credits therapy as a crucial factor in helping him reconnect with his music.
In a heartfelt interview celebrating his new collaboration with the mental health platform BetterHelp, Capaldi shared how psychotherapy has transformed his ability to create and perform again. According to the BBC, his 35-minute set at Glastonbury 2025 was his first major performance since a particularly tough moment in 2023, when he had to abruptly end his show due to severe symptoms of Tourette’s syndrome.
“Therapy has been a massive part of my life these past two years it’s one of the main reasons I can make music again,” Capaldi revealed.
Looking back on that 2023 performance, he described it as the lowest point in his life. He lost his voice on stage and was overwhelmed by uncontrollable tics. At that moment, he seriously contemplated stepping away from music for good.
He confessed that anxiety had taken over, leaving him feeling disconnected from reality and trapped in a cycle of negative thoughts. Therapy, he explained, helped him manage those emotions and taught him how to better handle his mental health.
To give back for the support he received through therapy, Capaldi has partnered with BetterHelp to donate 734,000 free therapy sessions. “That number is significant it’s 1,000 hours for every day I’ve been away. If I can share what helped me with others, why wouldn’t I?”
Capaldi opened up about his early challenges with therapy, sharing that he used to tell his therapist what he thought they wanted to hear instead of being honest. But now, he views therapy as a vital part of his wellbeing. “I feel amazing afterward. Sure, it can be tough at times, but I do it because I know how crucial it is for me to keep feeling good.”
He stressed how important it is to find the right therapist and reminded everyone that healing isn’t something that happens overnight it requires time, patience, and dedication.
Before Glastonbury, Capaldi treated fans to a few surprise “secret shows” around Scotland to help him get back into the swing of live performances. One of the first took place in Edinburgh, where emotions were running high: “Before I sang the last song, I expressed my gratitude to everyone… and I ended up crying.”
His new single, Survive, which he premiered during his Glastonbury performance, quickly climbed to the top of the UK singles chart. Now that he’s officially back, he’s gearing up for more concerts and is excited to keep working on new music.
